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November 23rd, 2008
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A tasty summer blend

Prague Proms offers another lively mix of classical and jazz
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By Frank Kuznik
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
July 9th, 2008 issue

COURTESY PHOTO
Sexy chanteuse Ute Lemper sings with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.
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COURTESY PHOTO
Hasenöhrl will play jazz solos with St. Basil's Big Band.
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Prague Proms


When: July 13-Aug. 8
Where: Obecní dům, various other venues
Tickets: 100-850 Kč, available through Ticketpro, Bohemia Ticket and at Obecní dům
For individual events, see the daily Calendar listings; for complete
schedule and ticket information, check
www.pragueproms.cz
If you don’t know Jan Hasenöhrl by sight, it’s unlikely you would ever pick the general manager of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra out of a crowd. In fact, it’s hard to pick him out of the orchestra, where except for occasional solos he and his trumpet usually occupy a seat in one of the back rows.
But Hasenöhrl is one of the canniest music impresarios in town. He’s built the CNSO into a solid ensemble that not only fills Obecní dům during the regular season, but maintains a solid recording schedule and regularly tours with singing stars such as Andrea Bocelli. He founded and has built Prague Proms, now in its fourth year, into one of the musical mainstays of the summer. And he’s done it all with private sponsors, not asking for a single crown of arts funding from the state or city.
“Other orchestras are sitting around in January, waiting to hear how much grant money they got,” Hasenöhrl says. “I was lucky to find sponsors like Czech Railways and ECM, who really like music and working with orchestras.”
“He was thinking,” adds CNSO Chief Conductor Libor Pešek with a playful tap on Hasenöhrl’s head. “He’s a big plotter.”
Pešek and Hasenöhrl talked over coffee after a recent press conference at which they unveiled this year’s Prague Proms program. As in past years, it offers a mix of light classical fare, a strong supplementary chamber music and jazz program and some notable guest stars, the biggest this year being German chanteuse Ute Lemper. The key to making it all work is offering a breezy program that will appeal to a broad audience yet still have some heft, a balancing act that Hasenöhrl and Pešek have pulled off neatly the past few years.
“That was our goal from the start, to enrich the summer season with music that’s not too lofty, but doesn’t sacrifice quality,” Hasenöhrl says.
“Diversity is our strength,” Pešek adds. “Tastes everywhere are getting more popular, so we’re offering not only classical, but jazz and gospel, and this year, Ute Lemper. She’s a lioness, isn’t she?”
Another hallmark of Prague Proms has been a willingness to try something new, starting the very first year with its pairing of classical and jazz concerts. This year, the festival doesn’t waste any time, opening with a Spanish Night (July 13) that features Pešek at the podium and a program that includes dancing to a suite from Carmen.
“How will we fit the dancers and a full orchestra onstage?” Pešek asked Hasenöhrl when the conversation turned to Spanish Night.
“The dancers need 10 square meters,” Hasenöhrl replied.
Pešek started to work through the math in his head, then shrugged and smiled. “I’m very curious to see how it will work.”
Other highlights of the orchestra concerts at Obecní dům include Lemper singing Kurt Weill and Jacques Brel (July 20); Hollywood Night, with Marcello Rota conducting soundtrack selections from films such as A Chorus Line and Pirates of the Caribbean (July 16); the Prague Chamber Orchestra backing a quartet of Czech violin virtuosos (July 28); and American conductor Paul Freeman bringing the 200-member Apostolic Church of God Sanctuary Choir for the always-popular Gospel Night (July 23).
There are two chamber music concerts at the Czech Museum of Music, one with the Epoque Quartet giving the string treatment to a mix of classical and jazz (July 17), and the other a classic recital by soprano Lívia Vénosová and pianist Jaroslav Šaroun. There’s also a sweet piano trio evening at St. Agnes’ Convent, with the AD Trio Prague performing Beethoven, Brahms and Dvořák.
Most of the jazz concerts are at Reduta, with good local names like Peter Lipa and Jazz Efterrätt. World-class bass player George Mraz holds court one night with a rotating cast of special guests (July 21), and the Ondřej Krajňák Trio is hosting a tribute to Oscar Peterson (July 25). And Hasenöhrl will put aside his classical licks to join St. Basil’s Big Band for a performance of White Mullet, their newly released CD, at Žofín (July 22).
“It’s a program for the people,” says Hasenöhrl. “We feel we’ve established a rapport with our audience.”
And once again, broadened the variety of offerings. Pick out something to your taste and enjoy the coolest sounds in town during Prague’s hot summer nights.

Frank Kuznik can be reached at fkuznik@praguepost.com


Other articles in Night & Day (9/07/2008):

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